Viator · group up to 100 pax

David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Half-Day Tour in Nairobi

4.3(81)Maasai Mara National Reserve1 hour
VIATOR4.2(38)TRIPADVISOR4.5(43)

Description

Take a day out of Nairobi's hustle and bustle and head to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Witness Visiting the only Elephant Orphanage within the city of Nairobi  meeting some of the largest mammals on earth and learn about their lives and how they survive in the wild. The visit takes place during feeding time viewing is strictly between 11:00 to 12:00

Tour Options

Park fees Included
  • Park fees Included: Nairobi national park and Elephant park fees included Pickup included
Park Entrance Fees Excluded
  • To Pay Park fees at the Gate : To pay Nairobi National Park USD85 Per person and Elephant Entrance fees USD20 Per Person Pickup included

Itinerary

Admission included60 min

The tour starts by picking you from your Hotel/Home within Nairobi 9:30AM. We will drive you to David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust have a walk through the little center from 11am - 12pm in an open space, with a rope fence around it. The youngest elephants come trotting out of the bush to greet their keepers who stand at the ready with giant bottles of milk. For the next 10-15 minutes you can watch each little one slurp and gargle their milk. When they're done, there's water to play with and keepers to nudge and get hugs from. While you get to watch them play and take photos. You find out how old they were when they arrived at the orphanage, where they were rescued from, and what got them into trouble. The most common reasons for getting orphaned being: mother's poached, falling into wells, and human/wildlife conflict. Once the youngest are all fed, they are led back into the bush, and it's the turn of the 2-3 year olds. Some of them can feed themselves, and some are still fed by their keepers. It's very cute to watch them hold their giant milk bottles in their trunks and close their eyes with joy as they make quick work of several gallons of milk.

Highlights

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Professional guide
Pick up and drop off from your Hotel/accommodation

What's included

Included
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Professional guide
Pick up and drop off from your Hotel/accommodation
Not included
Food and drinks
Lunch
Gratuities
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)

Pickup Locations & Times

Pick up available from airbnb and private apartments

Traveller Ratings

4.3
81 reviews
5
61
4
3
3
6
2
6
1
5

Important Information

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult

Reviews(81)

H
hayleyrI7735BM
May 29, 2026
Amazing experience!!

Fantastic visit to David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The orphaned elephants are gorgeous and so well looked after by their handlers. Gorgeous Centre to visit and spend time with these magnificent animals. You need to purchase your Nairobi National Park Ticket before arrival to avoid delays.

A
armanitoursandtravel
May 8, 2026
Half day tour in David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing Experience with Armani Tours and Travel – David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Experience: Booking with Armani Tours and Travel was smooth, professional, and well organized from start to finish. The visit to the was unforgettable. Seeing the rescued baby elephants being fed and playing in the mud was such a heartwarming experience. The guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and ensured we arrived on time before the entry closed. Admission Fee: The admission process was easy and clearly explained in advance by Armani Tours and Travel. Everything was handled professionally, making the trip stress-free. Length of Visit: The visit lasted about one hour, which was enough time to learn about elephant conservation, watch the feeding session, and take memorable photos. Atmosphere: The atmosphere was peaceful, educational, and family-friendly. It was inspiring to see the conservation efforts and the care given to the orphaned elephants. Crowd Size: There were visitors from different countries, but the tour was still enjoyable and well managed. Armani Tours and Travel helped organize the timing perfectly to avoid unnecessary delays. Staff: The staff at the orphanage and the team from Armani Tours and Travel were welcoming, professional, and very informative. They answered questions patiently and made the experience even more enjoyable. Best For: Perfect for families, couples, solo travelers, wildlife lovers, photographers, and anyone visiting looking for a meaningful wildlife conservation experience. I highly recommend Armani Tours and Travel for anyone planning a Nairobi excursion. Their excellent customer service, punctuality, and well-organized tours made the experience truly special.

J
John_K
March 31, 2026
We got pick up by Steve.....

We got pick up by Steve.. who may I say was an excellent guide. He introduced him self when he first call.. he welcomed up as we arrived at the fan.. he opened the door for us.. on our way to the elephant orphanage he was telling us all about the surrounding areas and telling us interesting facts. We arrived and he showed us the best spot and the orphanage and he even gave us a little briefing on what will happen before it even began. Steve made our day so much better and I just want to thank Steve for a brilliant day

R
Resort41387301785
February 12, 2026
Wonderful Trip to Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

Visiting the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage was an exceptional experience! The work they do to do rescue, rehabilitate, andcrewild orphan elephantsvis amazing. It was so fun to watch the orphansc come out to play and have their afternoon freeding, and the keepers gave a very informative talk about the elephants and the work the orphanage does. Out driver John was fantastic - he contacted us the night before to confirm our appointment and offer assistance with park entry tickets. He was on time in the morning and his commentary during our drive was interesting and informative. He was also a very good, safe driver on Nairobi’s quite congested on roads. We had a wonderful experience and highly recommend this tour.

1 people found this helpful
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Annemarie_C
January 14, 2026
Fabulous

Absolutely fabulous. The driver was timely, informative and navigated the potholes well. No issues at all

K
Karin_O
December 22, 2025
A very special baby animal experience!

A special and unique opportunity to meet rescued baby animals (elephants plus a zebra and a rhino) up close. We were introduced to each of them--each with a story of abandonment and rescue. Terrific learning around issues faced by animals in the wild--and about the amazing work the Sheldrick Foundation is doing to rehabilitat and release them back into the wild--successfully!

A
A5697SGalexv
December 3, 2025
Save yourself some time

Many of these tours are provided by gracepatt ecotours. If you contact them directly you can request specific guides, pick a different time, and cater the experience to what you have time for. If you go in the off season there is a lot more flexibility. My daughter and I did the elephants, giraffes, and bead center with John and had a wonderful time.

1 people found this helpful
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Road66572569621
November 1, 2025
Amazing orphanage for elephant

This was an absolute amazing place to visit and see small elephantsas well in a closer view. I had an amazing guide Sam.I would not forget him.He was able to answer our questions and this was such an amazing experience with my friends.

2 people found this helpful
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Frances_B
October 26, 2025
Rip off

Total rip off. You have to pay another 80usd on top of the “tour” amount for park entry and it’s only 1 hour at the elephant orphanage (which is lovely). The rest of the time you are taken to souvenir shops and expected to buy crap. It is just an outrageously expensive ride to the elephant place

A
adcdiving
October 21, 2025
Cute how they come off run to their porridge

Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage is a sanctuary for orphaned elephants located within Nairobi National Park. Actually a bit strange choice to put the sanctuary here as there are no elephants present in Nairobi National Park. At the moment they take in 13 elephants that are between 5 months and 4 years old. They cheerfully walk up to their caregivers who are waiting for them with various bottles of milk. They grab the bottles with their trunks and start drinking greedily. Really cute to see.

1 people found this helpful

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